Quick question for the veterans of home brewing...

[Boomer]

First - I plan on reading both and I own both. But, my question is this:

Would you suggest reading The Complete Joy of Home Brewing or How to Brew first? I didn't know which is more user friendly, whether one compliments the other, etc. I'm off tomorrow and have quite a bit of time on my hands during the day even when I am at work, so I figured I'd probably knock them both out within the next week or so, but I wanted to know where those more experienced than I would start.

Thanks in advance!

 

[volvodude]

I read both books before I started making any beer, and I felt that How to Brew was more informative for describing just how to make beer. That being said, The Complete Joy of Home Brewing was good also, and more entertaining

 

[HairyDogBrewing]

I agree with volvodude. But I suggest reading How to Brew first.

 

[Mustangj]

How To Brew..Free online

http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html

 

[westerbc]

I just finished Palmer's "How To Brew" and enjoyed how intensive he gets into the chemistry of brewing. Much of the discussion went over my head but I felt all the more wiser for having read it.

 

[Erythro73]

I think Papazian is the first book one should read. Why? Because he emphasizes way much more than Palmer on the importance to be zen while brewing. Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew. I think Papazian is much better in describing the attitude one should have while brewing.

But Palmer is more informative on homebrewing techniques. And he's up-to-date as far as techniques go.

 

[archiefl98]

I think Papazian is the first book one should read. Why? Because he emphasizes way much more than Palmer on the importance to be zen while brewing. Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew. I think Papazian is much better in describing the attitude one should have while brewing.

But Palmer is more informative on homebrewing techniques. And he's up-to-date as far as techniques go.

I agree with this point of view, probably just because that's the way I did it. I refer new brewers to Papazian for many things, but I always refer them to Palmer when it comes to a question of specifics. Papazian has some great insight and attitudes, as well as some easy-to-comprehend ways of portraying information. Palmer allows you to take that initial information and get as specific as you can with it.

The end result though: both are great, must-have resources in the world of homebrewing.


Of course Papazian has that Toad Spit Stout recipe in there. God I love that brew.

 

[Bobby_M]

The attitude one takes with brewing is a personal thing. Not every home brewer is Buddhist or a quasi buddhist hippy. I bought and read "joy" as an homage to what Charlie did for the hobby but if you're looking for more technical and up to date info, go with Palmer.

 

[IndyMatt]

I felt like Papazian is a lot easier of a read. Palmer got way more into the chemistry than what I need at this time. Read the all grain sections of both books and you will see what I mean. Both are great!

 

[starrfish]

I felt like Papazian is a lot easier of a read. Palmer got way more into the chemistry than what I need at this time. Read the all grain sections of both books and you will see what I mean. Both are great!

Read them both start with Papazian just for the fact it's an easier, more entertaining read.

Papazians 2nd book, The Homebrewer's Companion, is good too later on, after a few brews under your belt.

 

[mmonacel]

I never read the Papazian book, but one of the things I really liked about Palmer's book was that the first part gives you a nice overview of the brewing process. When you want to learn "how do I brew beer?", you get your answer right away with enough detail to get you moving. The rest of the book then goes into detail about each of those steps and answers the "why" to the "hows". It starts out with extract, and then goes into AG thereby allowing you to "grow" with the book. I thought it was well laid out, very informative, and certainly a great reference I keep going back to.

 

[StAnthonyB]

Would you suggest reading The Complete Joy of Home Brewing or How to Brew first? I didn't know which is more user friendly, whether one compliments the other, etc... I figured I'd probably knock them both out within the next week or so, but I wanted to know where those more experienced than I would start.

If you're into a the whole cult of personality thing and someone to cheerleader, then make you puke, then go ahead and read the Papazian book.


If you're looking to get beyond the the hippy dippy crap, light the Papazian book on fire and read Palmer's book, all the while enjoying the toasty flames. In fact, read Palmer's other works too.


The Classic Beer Styles series is an insurmountable resource. I very highly regard these books.


It is probably at this point that I can admit that the Papazian book did absolutely nothing for me except to make me more solid in my commitment to boycotting the 'these guys need to take a shower and comb their hair' brew shops in the my area.

 

[Boomer]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like I'm gonna go with Palmer's book first, but I appreciate everyone's help/advice. I've gotta find something to pass the time while this batch is in the primary. Does one gain any more patience after he's got several brews under his belt? I'm not gonna mess with it at all, but the suspense is killing me...

 

[chrispykid]

Does one gain any more patience after he's got several brews under his belt? I'm not gonna mess with it at all, but the suspense is killing me...

I'm not trying to talk you out of reading How to Brew (it's good), but questions like these are exactly why Complete Joy is so great. It's exactly these kind of feelings that he is so great about addressing. Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Homebrew (or storebought until yours are ready).

 

[Bacchus]

First - I plan on reading both and I own both. But, my question is this:

Would you suggest reading The Complete Joy of Home Brewing or How to Brew first? I didn't know which is more user friendly, whether one compliments the other, etc. I'm off tomorrow and have quite a bit of time on my hands during the day even when I am at work, so I figured I'd probably knock them both out within the next week or so, but I wanted to know where those more experienced than I would start.

Thanks in advance!

I've read one of them and I'm sure the other is a fine book but I would vote for reading neither. The basic information that you need to brew decent beer can be found right here on this forum, at any of hundreds of other websites and (quite often) on the back of the extract can! Having been a newbie once myself, I know firsthand how confusing all of the conflicting information can be. I think a lot of other people's "opinions", usually by being repeated time and time again, become viewed as absolute facts and thereby confuses the bejesus out of first-time brewers. They wring their hands, chew their nails and have many a sleepless night because they may have violated "Joe Blows' Opinionated Rule #3".

There are only a few absolute rules when brewing alcoholic beverages and you can count them on one hand. The rest is your own subjective taste. Hang out here, surf the web, learn the basics and then teach yourself (via experimentation) how to brew the kind of beer that you like.

Just my two cents. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Poolside]

What would I do if I had a million dollars?

I'd read both at the same time.

(I know this is literally not possible, but reading "How To Brew" via the website while in front of my computer at work day-to-day, and reading "The Joy of" on the train, and at home: I found myself on pg. 60 of "The Joy" while on pg. 40 of "How to Brew, so on and so forth...)

These two fine books compliment each other much too wonderfully to be read separately.

I don't see a reason to read one exclusively front to back, then read another by itself front to back......

 

[Marsdude]

"The Joy" reminded me a bit of 'The Mother Earth News." I really enjoyed it and learned from it but I feel that "How to Brew" is more of a manual.

 

[pkeeler]

You can read both at the same time. All home brew books basically are laid out: beginner then partial mash then all grain. If you are just starting, you can just read the two beginner sections.

 

[olllllo]

The book s were written in different eras. I used to say Bible vs. Technical Manual.

In Papazian's era, it was important to write a book to convince you that you could brew and that you should brew. Remember, no one was really brewing craft beer at the time following Prohibition.

In Palmer's era, it was important to tell you precisely how and why stuff worked.